Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-28
breakfast ready and then prepare to go

with me-"
TIE mother was SO overcome that she
dropped into chair and began moaning
and weeping. 1t was terrible shock to
the girl, but she realized from the first
moment that If she was to be saved from
the fate planned for her she must save
herself. She therefore went ahead with
the preparations for the meal, and about
the time the men were told TO sit down
30 the table the mother hobbled out and
sat down beside the dead body Of her
husband, so dazed and terrified that she
could net shed 8 tear. After the first
shock the girl began to plan against the
gang, and every move made by the men
was narrowly watched. As the place was
! isolated they had no fear of being dis
turbed, and took matters very leisurely.
They talked of the shooting of Benton as
coolly as if they had only fired upon 8
dog, and as they drew up to the table
| Cummerford observed:
"Ought to have hit him about two
inches lower, but it wasn't so bad for 8
snap shop. Kinder sorry for the old
woman, but she'll feel better after we
fling the body into the river. Say, gal,
how d'y like me, any way? You orter to
DE proud Of such man as jack GUNNER
ford"
"Come, Jack, be bit easy on her I'M
til we get ahoat," remarked one of the
others.
go, sartin,' chuckled the outlaw.
"She's kind frald of me now, but she'll
soon be proud of her husband. Rather
pooty gal, Hattie is. Sorry didn't come
last week, but my motto is to attend to
bizness fust. Say, gal, don't be afeard
to laugh if you feel like it,"
Cummerford had brought his rifle or
carbine to the house, while the others had
left their firearms aboard the boat. The
carbine leaned against the wall in the
rear of the men, and Just as they got
fairly to eating the girl examined it sufti-
GENTLY to note that the chamber contained
four or five bullets. No sooner was she
certain of this than she snatched it up and
srrang out of doors, Iand as she ran for
her mother, who was in the direct line
the body and hasten aboard the
not hesitate about complying, and she
was on board before any of the outlaws
came out. When they did appear 1t was
| TO find the girl with the carbine at sn
aim, covering the mothers retreat, and
ruffians were all upset for the moment.
Then Cummerford sprang into the cabin
after the dead mans rife, and when he
reappeared he brought it to his face and
commanded the girl, who was by that time
on board the shanty boat and try
| ing to cast off the line, to come ashore.
She paid him not the least attention, and
he coolly fred at her head. The bullet
I loo, Ii fnry nd of hnR FipYh
ear, and in retaliation she picked up the
carbine and fred an off-hand shot, which
killed the man who stood on the right of
Cummerford. The recoil of the heavy
piece knocked her down, but before they
could rush upon her the mother seized en-
az and cut the line, and the boat foated
away on the current.
Cummerford ran back into the cabin
after ammunition, but before he found il
the boat was half g mile below the house,
eud when he opened fire the women
sheltered themselves IN the cabin, AS
fast as he could load and fire he fred upon
the boat, hoping that stray shot would
wound or kill. The girl made no reply
until the current carried the boat into 6
tree on the opposite side of the stream
Then, when the outlaws began to prepare
to swim Or float on to II, she opened nrt
from the three or four loaded revolver:
hanging in the cabin, and did such good
shooting as TO force them to abandon the
attempt.
Had it been coming on dark, the two
men would doubtless have found means
to recover the boat and recapture the
women, but the craft had not been de-
tanned more than an hour in the tree
top, when d government survey party
came along and were soon in possession
of all the particulars. The women were
taken off, the boat was stripped of it's
plumber and then the structure was given
over to the flames. During the time two
men were landed to hunt the Wretches,
| but like the towards they were they left
| the locality with sill possible speed, and
Cummerford was not heard of again until
killed in q fight at Arkansas Post.